1. (n.) Something frightful, as a specter; anything imaginary that causes needless fright; something used to excite needless fear; also, something really dangerous, used to frighten children, etc.
2. (n.) Same as Bugaboo.
3. (a.) Causing needless fright.
4. (v. t.) To alarm with idle phantoms.
Thesaurus Entries
Dracula, Frankenstein, Mumbo Jumbo, Wolf-man, affliction, anathema, bane, bete noire, bogey, bogeyman, boggart, bogle, bogy, booger, boogerman, boogeyman, bug, bugaboo, bugger, burden, calamity, crushing burden, cry of wolf, curse, death, destruction, detestation, disease, dud, evil, false alarm, fee-faw-fum, frightener, ghost, ghoul, grievance, harm, hate, hobgoblin, holy terror, horror, incubus, infliction, monster, nemesis, nightmare, ogre, ogress, open wound, pest, pestilence, phantom, plague, revenant, running sore, scarebabe, scarecrow, scarer, scourge, specter, succubus, terror, thorn, torment, vampire, vexation, visitation, werewolf, woe
